Minsk Hang On For Last 16 Slot

Aliaksandr Kudrautsau and Tsmoki-Minsk came up big in France, stealing the game and a berth in the Last 16

Tsmoki-Minsk held off a late Nancy rally to win 63-57 in France and snatch a Last 16 place in the EuroChallenge from their hosts.

In a head-to-head battle for second place in Group G, Minsk dominated the third quarter to take control of the game, and then hung on as Nancy came back at the finish.

They led almost from start to finish but it was only a narrow advantage until late in the second quarter.

Then they went on a 12-0 spurt that spanned the half-time interval to lead 39-26 on Aliaksei Lashkevich's jump-shot.

Jajuan Smith hit a pair of free throws late in the third quarter that made it 48-33 and Minsk looked to be cruising.

When Aliaksandr Pustahvar made it 57-39 with a lay-up 5:51 from time it appeared to be all over but Nancy had other ideas and Torrell Martin's three-pointer sparked a 13-2 run that made it 59-52 with 2:16 left.

Aliaksandr Kudrautsau's jump-shot stopped the flow and then Kenny Grant missed a three as Nancy's charged stalled.

Martin closed the gap to 61-54 with 70 seconds left, but when he missed a three with 15 seconds left, the game was getting away from them, and Smith iced it from the free throw line.